Music Research and Performance: Find Music
Introduction
This guide gives an overview on how to find and research music in Fondren Library. Below is a list of more specific music research guides.
Search the Library Catalog in OneSerach
OneSearch - enter your keywords below.
- OneSearch will find books, e-books, periodicals, films, music scores and CDs, audio recordings, government publications, archival materials, maps, as well as individual journal or newspaper articles.
- To find the location of a call number consult this "stack location guide".
Didn't find what you need? Try the following options:
- WorldCat This link opens in a new windowWorldCat, available on the FirstSearch interface, is a combined catalog for over 70,000 libraries in 170 countries. The information is updated daily.
- Interlibrary Loan (aka ILLiad)If Fondren Library does not have the book or article you need ...
Browsing the shelves for music
The Brown Fine Arts Library is located on the third floor of Fondren Library. Music scores, books, and both current issues and bound volumes of music periodicals, are kept here, along with the music librarian's office. Sound and video recordings, and course reserve materials, are held behind the main circulation desk on the first floor.
If you want to browse our collection for a certain type of music (e.g. flute solos), the call number arrangement makes it easy to do so. Click on the links below for the full outline of music call numbers.
| M – Music Score | Organized by size of ensemble: M100s = solos; M200s = duets, etc. M1000s are orchestral works; M1500s are operas/musicals; M2000s are choral works. |
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Within these large categories, scores are organized by instrumentation, then by composer. If you want to browse all string quartets, search 'string quartets' by keyword and narrow by score to get a more specific call number than M400. |
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| ML – Books, information about music | ML410 is the call number for composer biographies, arranged alphabetically by name. |
| MT – Music Education | Books on learning about any aspect of music, including how to play various instruments. |
Subject Guide
Finding Scores and Recordings online
- Henle Library (app) This link opens in a new windowThis digital music score database app is designed for mobile use on tablet computers, so it only works on Apple iPads, Apple computers with M1/M2 chip, Android tablets and Chromebooks. To set up an account: 1) Use the link above to create an account; and 2) After an account has been created, install the app and sign in to your account. The app works online and offline and is intended for active music making, practicing, rehearsing and performing. If you would like to know more about its features, see the video tutorials on the app.
- nkoda app This link opens in a new windowThis is a digital music score database app. To set up an account: 1) Create an account by using the link above; 2) When you receive a prompt to 'Continue as a member of Rice University,' click yes; and 3) Install the app on any device anywhere and use it.
Free public domain scores, and sometimes parts, available for downloading.
No Rice affiliation needed.
Public domain scores at the Sibley Music Library, Eastman.
International Music Score Library Project
Sound and Video Recordings
- Naxos Music Library This link opens in a new windowNaxos Music Library is an unique resource, giving you online access to the entire Naxos catalogue of recordings as well as discs from other major classical labels such as Sony Classical and Deutsche Grammophon. Through a sophisticated online search engine, you can select works by composer, artist, period, year of composition, instrument or genre. Playlists also can be created, and you can read insightful information about the works, artists and composers. New releases are continually added to ensure that the music library is always complete and up-to-date. Please note that this resource allows for up to 20 concurrent users. Please logout when exiting.
- electro:thèque This link opens in a new window"The electro:thèque web app allows you to listen to selected works culled from the empreintes DIGITALes catalogue and its composers. Here you can discover new recordings as well as some timeless “classics” of electroacoustics (electro:thèque)." Note: License is limited to five concurrent users.
- Met Opera on Demand This link opens in a new window"Met Opera on Demand delivers instant access to more than 60 past performances from the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, as well as more than 350 classic full-length video and audio performances."
- Digital Concert Hall This link opens in a new windowRecordings from performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Click on More Info for information on access.